Some dumb retic questions

[fishingpit]

I have only had my retic a few weeks and I have some questions.They may seem dumb, but my only snake experiance with snakes is with balls for the last year or so.

I am feeding her every four days like I do my ball pythons. Is that to often since I would also like to handle her on a regular basis? For the last few days every time I put my hand in there or try to touch her she lets me know that I am not welcome. Am I keeping her in "feeding mode" by feeding her so often?

Should I get a hook for handling her? I thought those where only the venomous snakes.(lets just say that if my girl was venomous I'd be in the hospital)

Am I being realistic in wanting to handle this snake on a regular basis ? Or with retics do you just kind of figure out when they are "in the mood"?

Oh Yah, she is a 04 albino about 6'

Any help, hints, tips, feedback, or "lessons learned" would be welome.

Thanx,
Robert

[liasisguy]

Hi Robert,
I keep a couple of retics (normal, tiger--I can't afford and albino) and I usually wait at least 24 hours before handling them. I always go into the cage with a snake hook to pick them up. I find that it cuts down on the feeding response bites--I learned this from experience, and bloodshed.
Good Luck
Travis

[damianthesnakeman]

snake hook could be a good idea

[PadraigC]

let me just start by saying retics are in feeding mode most of the time if they are healthy. and secong a hook is a good idea for a little tap or even rolled up newspaper just so they get the idea that they arent getting fed and handled. With an 04 shes prob conditioned to expecting food the minute the door opens but by feeding her with hemostats and not given her a nudge she shell get the idea that when they get a nudge theyre getting handled....just my experience and if that doesnt work some tics are just naturally lil a**holes becuase hey there retics

[CJReptile]

No such thing as a dumb question, Just dumb people :angel:

[David Bellis]

The other tip I would add is to try to condition her feeding response. If you have a large cage, put the prey on the cage floor on the opposite side of the snake. Get the food in and get out so she doesn't associate you with food. The more often she's getting food that isn't moving and is on the floor, the less often she'll be firing at you. Dangling prey above them just teaches them to look and strike upward for food. I would also advise handling her now while she's small. the longer you wait the more she'll be set in her ways. Give her a day or two to digest before handling but get her out and get her used to you.

[soccerdude]

I've also found that if they strike out you handel them anyway because if they find that they can intimidate you that sort of behavore will continue. I have two albino retics and one tiger retic thats het for albino and they were a little nippy but they quickly learned that the more they stuck at me the more they got picked up. now there really nice and while i doubt they would admit it they liek being handeled now. I to drop my live prey on the other side of the cage.

[RRusso70]

I have 4 Tics they all got the Retic feeding Responce i just do the nudge thing and they know it's no feeding time. Keep at it they calm down with work. Congrats on the new Tic they are the best.

[daiyoukai]

I use a hook to tap her on the ehad and she calms down. lately Iv been doing this with my finger as I lost my snake hook. lol. I guess this is pretty stupid but oh well, she is just alil girl and couldnt do much damage if she tried, though she hasnt tried yet.

[Sarge2004]

Great advice from the others as usual. Get a hook and start touching the retic anytime the cage is opened except when food is coming into the cage. During feeding the retic should not even see a hook. The tic will soon be conditioned to this and both of you should get along well. Best of luck-Bill